Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives - 6 other phones that deserve a look - Android

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Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives - 6 other phones that deserve a look - Android

If you like a lot about the phone but not enough to buy it, here are some Pixel 4a 5G alternatives that might work better.

Google Pixel 4a 5G screenshot

Credit: Google


In September 2020, Google officially launched the Google Pixel 4a 5G. As its name implies, it’s a 5G-powered variant of the Google Pixel 4a, which launched earlier in August. You might like the Pixel 4a 5G quite a bit, but there might be things that don’t excite you. That’s where these Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives come in!

See also: Everything you need to know about Google hardware

Below, you’ll find six other phones that deliver a similar experience at similar price points. Granted, some of these handsets will be more expensive, but others will actually be cheaper. With phones in this price range, you really need to factor out which features are the most important to you and then use that as your guide for your decision.

Without further ado, here are the best Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives you can currently find!


1. Google Pixel 5

google pixel 5 sorta sage press image from youtube video

Credit: Google


  • Many more premium features with a similar design
  • $200 more expensive
  • Available unlocked and on many US carriers

The Google Pixel 5 is the most obvious choice from the various Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives. The Pixel 5 has a very similar design and shares a lot of the same specs, including 5G support. It even launched on the same day!

However, the Pixel 5 offers a few notable upgrades over the Pixel 4a 5G. It has a 90Hz display refresh rate, which allows for a much smoother experience when scrolling around apps. The Pixel 5 also has an IP68 certification protecting it from water and dust. It has wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, an upgraded camera system, a bigger battery, and more RAM.

Related: Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 4a: Which should you buy?

Essentially, if you like the Pixel 4a 5G but it’s just not as powerful and feature-rich as you would want, the Pixel 5 is the obvious next-best-choice. It looks similar, it has the same software, and it will deliver a terrific camera experience.

Of course, all those extra perks come at a premium. The Pixel 5 starts at $699, which is $200 more than the Google Pixel 4a 5G. Keep in mind, though, that $700 is still much, much cheaper than the big-time flagships of the year, which come in at around $1,000 or sometimes more.

Google Pixel 5 Google's first 5G smartphone
The Google Pixel 5 may not be the high-end Pixel we were expecting, but it's a pretty compelling mid-range option. Google is going back to basics with the Pixel 5, ditching higher-end features like face recognition and the quirky Motion Sense gestures.
  • $699 at Amazon
  • $699 at Best Buy
  • $699 at B&H
  • $699 at Google Store
  • $699 at Verizon
  • $699 at US Cellular

2. Google Pixel 4a

Google Pixel 4a back face down zoomed in 1

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority


  • Fewer features but a similar design and software experience
  • $150 cheaper
  • A wide range of availability in all countries, including India

If your main issue with the Pixel 4a 5G is that it’s too expensive, then the vanilla Google Pixel 4a is something you should check out. It’s the cheapest phone by far on this list of Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives.

The Pixel 4a is a foil to the Pixel 5. Where the Pixel 5 increases the price by adding in more features, the Pixel 4a decreases the price by removing them. For example, the Pixel 4a only has one camera lens on the back, is physically smaller with a smaller battery, and has a weaker processor.

Related: Google Pixel 4a review: Google’s best phone in years

With the Pixel 4a, you’ll also lose out on 5G support. While 5G connectivity might not be super important right now, the lack of compatibility makes this phone less future-proof.

Of course, the loss of those features drops the price significantly by about 30%. The Pixel 4a 5G is $499, while the Pixel 4a is only $349. That’s a huge difference that could sway the budget-conscious buyer. The bottom line here is that if you want a terrific smartphone experience for as little money as possible, you want the Pixel 4a.

Google Pixel 4a The best of Google for $349
Getting the Google experience has never been more accessible. A compact phone that's easy to use, a beautiful screen, and one of the best cameras in this price range. The Pixel 4a is hard to beat.
  • $349 at Amazon
  • $349 at Best Buy
  • $379.99 at Verizon

3. Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G color burst

Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority


  • Some upgrades (and some downgrades) inside a very “Samsung” design
  • $100 more expensive, but it has frequent discounts
  • Available pretty much everywhere

Moving away from Pixel phones, one of the best Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives is the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G. This is the current top-of-the-line mid-range phone from Samsung. If you go any more premium than this, you enter into Galaxy S territory.

The Galaxy A71 5G is a very different phone from the Pixel 4a 5G. Most notably, it’s bigger, heavier, and has twice as many rear cameras as the Pixel 4a 5G. However, it’s not necessarily more powerful. Its Exynos chipset probably won’t match the Snapdragon 765G on the Pixel phone. In our review of the Galaxy phone, we felt its performance was slightly lacking for a device in its price range.

Related: Samsung phones buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know

That being said, there are some notable perks to the Galaxy A71 5G. It has a MicroSD slot for expandable storage, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and a much bigger battery that charges at a faster rate. It also features a unique two-tone design that might be cool enough to sway your vote.

The MSRP for the Galaxy A71 5G is $599, or $100 more than that Pixel 4a 5G. However, it is very easy to find deals that knock that price down to match the Pixel 4a 5G. This one is absolutely worth a look for the Pixel 4a 5G shopper!

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G Samsung's most affordable 5G phone.
Looking for a 5G phone but don't want to break the $1,000 barrier? The Galaxy A71 5G offers the speed you need at a price you love without feeling cheap.
  • $599 at Amazon
  • $599 at Samsung
  • $599 at T-Mobile
  • $599 at AT&T

4. Motorola One 5G

02/10/2020 04:00 PM